Shelving unit

ABSTRACT

A shelving unit comprises side frames having pairs of vertical rods and transverse rods connecting these pairs; and shelf frames having pairs of longitudinally extending rods and transversely extending rods connecting these pairs. The shelf frames have, at the ends thereof, notches on the front and rear edges, the notches being adapted to cooperate with the vertical rods of the side frames. The transverse rods of the shelf frames are located inwardly of the notches to produce spring deformations of the end portions of the longitudinal rods.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a shelving unit assembly which comprises anumber of ladder-like side frames and a number of shelf frames, or thelike, which can be connected in various ways to the side frames wherebya varied assortment of shelving units of different shapes can beassembled.

PRIOR ART

Many systems are known in similar structures. In some cases, thecomponent parts have been mainly made of wood, and despite the use ofmetal hardware, very high precision standards have been a requisite.Often, the finished shelving structure is so unsteady that eithercross-bracing or back panels or similar stiffening means must be used.

In other cases, the shelving unit structures have been built entirely ofmetal components in which cases extremely high precision requirementsmust have been observed for the components to fit one another whenassembled. In such structures, loosened screw joints or otherconnections have been the usual cause of unsteadiness and malfunctions.Consequently, such shelving structures have had to be provided withstiffening means such as cross-bracings, back panels, etc., in order toensure their proper function.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,817 discloses a shelving unit which is a goodexample of such an older type of metal construction. The system of theU.S. patent comprises side frames designed in the form of a ladder withpairs of vertical rods extending along the front and rear edges of theside frames and with transverse rods extending therebetween, thetransverse rods being secured, by welding, between the vertical rods ofthe side frames. The shelf frames are designed in a correspondingmanner. They comprise parallel rods secured one upon the other along thefront and rear edge, and transverse rod extending between the parallelrods and being secured, by welding, thereto. The transverse rods of theside frame support the shelf frames in the vertical direction. The shelfframes have ground notches at the ends of their rear and front edges,the notches being adapted to receive the vertical rods of the sideframe. The design of the structure is such that the compressive forcebrought about between the notches of the shelf frames and the verticalrods of the side frames is sufficient to prevent the dislodgement of theshelving in normal use, without the necessity of using cross-bracing,back panels, etc.

According to the U.S. patent, the transverse rods of the shelf framesare mounted between the two notches in the longitudinal rods whichreceive both vertical rods of the side frame. Consequently, nopossibility of springing effect and compensation for small dimensionaldeviations is left, neither in the side frame nor in the shelf frame,due to transverse rods being mounted in the shelf frames in theabove-described manner. As a result, the notches in the shelf framesmust be precision-ground to achieve close fit tolerances. This alsomeans, of course, that a shelf frame which has been made to fit in acertain side frame at a specific place, does not necessarily fit anotherside frame or even the first frame at another place.

Further, the notches being ground out means that the contact surfaces ofthe vertical rods matching the notches are relatively small whichresults in highly concentrated loads and generally poor cohesion at theconnections.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioneddrawbacks of the prior art structures and to provide a shelving systemof the type defined, which is made of welded metal components withoutexcessive precision demands, wherein loosened connections or poorstability do no pose any problem, not even when back panels,cross-bracing and similar stabilizing means are omitted.

SOLUTION

According to the invention, there is provided a shelving unit or systemcomprising side frames with substantially vertical rods and transverselyextending rods, and shelf frames having longitudinal rods and transverserods, the longitudinally extending rods of the shelf frames havingnotches on their front and rear edges to cooperate with the verticalrods of the side frames when the shelf frames are inserted between thevertical rods and characterized in that the transverse rods of the shelfframes are disposed inwardly relative to the innermost notches in thelongitudinal rods of the shelf frames.

This decision has a major advantage in that the longitudinal rods of theshelf frames are allowed to yield or spring back somewhat adjacent thenotches. Thus, a compensation is provided for unavoidable tolerances ofparticular components of the shelving system.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the essentially verticalrods of the side frames are arranged in pairs with the transverse rodsbeing disposed between each pair or rods and fastened thereto.Additionally, the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are arranged inpairs, with transverse rods disposed between each pair of rods andfastened thereto. Preferably, this embodiment is characterized in thatthe notches are located to produce spring deformations in thesubstantially vertical rods of the side units.

The design according to the invention, aside from the above-mentionedresiliency, also provides the possibility of resilient deformations inthe side frames, wherein these deformations are independent of those inthe shelf frames, and the plane of the deformations is parallel to theplanes which are defined by each pair of vertical rods of the sideframes.

FURTHER TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing the shelving unitof the type specified above, the method to produce a more stable, simpleand inexpensive product.

FURTHER SOLUTION

According to the invention, the manufacturing is done in stages; sideframes are made of pairs of substantially vertical rods which areconnected with transverse rods, and shelf frames are made of pairs oflongitudinal rods which are connected with transverse rods, notchesbeing provided in the longitudinal rods at the front and rear edges ofthe shelf frames, said notches being adapted to engaged thesubstantially vertical rods of the sides frames when the shelf framesare inserted therebetween and is characterized in that the notches aremade by plastic working of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames,wherein the vertical cross-section of the rods in the area of thenotches becomes enlarged.

These features allow, firstly, a very fast and inexpensive production ofthe shelving units of the invention and, secondly, provide forconsiderably greater contact surfaces of the notches for the verticalrods of the side frames, particularly in their longitudinal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is to be described more in detail below, reference isbeing had to the accompanying drawings on which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a side frame and a shelf frame to beconnected thereto;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, approximately of the line A--A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section corresponding to the section A--A of FIG. 1, withtwo shelf frames being attached to one side frame;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another, modified embodiment, wherein thesection corresponds to the section A--A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a local view of one corner area of the shelf frame.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The basic idea behind the invention is that the inventive shelf unitshould be stable and substantially rigid without the use ofcross-bracing or the like and inspite of the fact that the componentsconstituting the shelf unit could be allowed to have moderate or, even,bad tolerances. According to the invention there is, therefore, createda number of mutually independent spring deformations in the componentsconstituting the shelf unit, thus obtaining both great clamping forcesand compensation of the tolerances. By using several independent springdeformations there is, as a whole, achieved great spring forces, longspring lengths and spring forces varying only slightly within the springlength. Such spring deformations are created in several differentcomponents and, possibly, in several different directions in eachcomponent.

The spring deformations mentioned above also produces biasing forces inone or more of the components constituting the shelf unit thereby toimprove stability.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shelving unit comprises a side frame whichconsists of two pairs of vertical rods, viz. two front vertical rods 1,2 and two rear vertical rods 3, 4. These two pairs or rods are connectedtogether by substantially horizontal crossbars 5, 6 spaced regularly ornon-regularly. The cross-bars are secured, by welding, between thevertical rods.

As shown in FIG. 2, the end portions 7 of the horizontal and transverserods 5, 6 can project slightly from the front or rear side of thevertical rods.

The horizontal and transverse rods 5 and 6 may have various spacing inthe vertical direction and are preferably disposed at a right angle tothe vertical rods. It is possible to arrange for the shelf frames to bedisposed at many different heights on the side frames by the use of asuitable number of cross-bars 5 and 6, since the vertical rodsconstitute supports of the shelf frames.

It is also possible to employ one or more cross-bars corresponding tothe horizontal rods 5 and 6, the cross-bars being disposed at an angleto the vertical rods 1-4, e.g. in order to support an inclined newspapershelf or the like.

Principally, the shelf frames are constructed similarly to the sideframes, and accordingly, they comprise a pair of horizontal longitudinalrods, 8 and 9, disposed one over the other at the front edge of theshelf frame, and similar rods 10, 11 at the rear edge. At both ends ofthe shelf frame are mounted transversely extending rods 12, which aresecured, by welding, between the longitudinal rods. The transverselyextending rods 12 (of the shelf frames) can also be provided with endportions, similar to those of the rods 5, 6, which protrude somewhatover the front edge and behind the rear edge of the shelf frame.

FIG. 1 shows only a single transverse rod 12, but of course anothercorresponding rod is provided at the opposite end of the shelf frame.Further, one or more corresponding transverse rods may be provided inthe middle area of the shelf frame. However, it may be detrimental toprovide a transverse rod too close to the border rods. The reasons forthis caution will be explained hereinafter. The cross bar 12 andpossible further cross bars are fastened to the longitudinal rods 8 and9 in such a way that the latter ones are prevented from moving in theirlongitudinal directions.

As a means of joining the shelf frames and the side frames, thelongitudinal rods 8, 9, 10, 11 have, on the front and rear edges,substantially cylindric notches or indentations 14, 15, 16, 17 on theirend portions outside both the transverse rods 12, the notches orindentations being disposed on the side of the rods facing the verticalrods 1, 2, 3, 4. The notches or indentations are disposed so that theypartially receive the vertical rods 1-4 of the side frames when theshelf frame is inserted into the side frame diagonally to the transverserod 6 and is subsequently brought down and parallel thereto. This isclearly shown in FIG. 2. As the longitudinal rods 8, 9, 10, 11 could notbe longitudinally displaced relatively each other, and further, if it ispossible to ascertain large contact surfaces and an adequate pressurewith which the longitudinal rods 8, 9, 10, 11 abut against the innerside of the vertical rods 1, 2, 3, 4, the connection between the shelfframes and the side unit accomplished through the notches 14 - 17 isextremely stable, so much so, that no other reinforcement between theshelf frames and side frames is necessary. Actually, the construction isso stable that even cross-bracings, back panels, etc., can be omitted.

What is said above could also be expressed in such terms that biasingforces are created, by means of spring deformations, in one or more ofthe rods used in the shelf unit.

The horizontal transverse cross cross-bars 5 and 6 are disposed in theside frames between the vertical rods 1-4. This means that the verticalrods 1-4 must be considered as rigid and non-movable in the longitudinaldirection of the rods 5, 6, at least in the area close to these rods, orat least so difficult to move having so hard spring action thatextremely great forces would be necessary to produce even very smalldisplacements. In order to avoid, in such a situation unrealisticallyhigh precision demands regarding the shelf frames as well as therequirements regarding the assembling of the side frames, the inventionprovides for a springing cooperation of the components. This is achievedowing to the transverse rods 12 being disposed inwardly of the innernotches 15, 17 rather than within the area defined by the oppositenotches 14, 16 and 15, 17. The free ends of the rods 8, 9 and 10, 11having the recesses 14-17, protrude beyond the junction with the rod 12.Therefore, when the shelf frames are pressed between the pairs of rods1, 2 and 3, 4, the free ends protruding beyond the transverse rods 12come somewhat nearer to each other. Such a forced insertion can beaccomplished through a small deflection of the rods 12, but primarilythrough a deflection of the longitudinal rods 8-11. The obviousprerequisite for the deflection of the transverse rods 12 is that thewelded joint between the rods 12 and the rods 8-11 must be resistant tobending, and further, that there is no further transverse rod close tothe transverse rod 12.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the transverse rod 12 of the shelfframe is so disposed that it abuts against both inner vertical rods 2, 4of the side frame. This embodiment may prove advantageous when thedimensions of the shelving unit are relatively small and consequently,the appertaining rods are of relatively small diameter and thus theirelasticity is relatively high.

It was mentioned hereinabove that no other connections should beprovided between the longitudinal rods 8-11 close to the transverse rods12 and inside thereof, since such connections would hinder possibilityof deflection of the longitudinal rods.

By means of the possible spring action achieved by the location, asmentioned above, of the cross rods 12 of the shelf frames there could beattained means for compensating varying depths of the notches 14-17,varying positions of the connections between the cross rods 12 and thelongitudinal rods 8-11 and, finally, also for varying positions of thejoints between the cross rods 5 and 6 and the vertical rods 1-4 of theside frames.

Both external notches 14, 16 on the longitudinal rods 8-11 are disposedon a longer lever arm relative to the rods 12 (than the inner notches15, 17). As a result, an equal force exerted onto the outer notches 14,16 brings about a greater deflection (of the end portions) than in thecase of the inner recesses 15, 17. As a remedy, and to obtain anessentially uniform pressure between the particular notches and thevertical rods 1-4 in the side frames, the outer recesses 14, 16 may bemade slightly more shallow than the inner recesses 15, 17. Anotherpossibility is, to bend the end portions of the rods 8-11, extendingbeyond the cross-bars 12, slightly outwardly.

In FIG. 3 there is shown an embodiment in which two separate shelfframes are connected with a common side unit. It can be clearly seenthat only the outer recesses 14, 16 of each shelf frame have been used,therefore this embodiment preferably calls for the above-describedmethods of increasing the pressure between the outer notches and theside unit.

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment particularly well adapted forbigger shelf units using relatively thick material in the rods. In thisembodiment the transverse rods 12 are mounted more inwardly towards themiddle of the shelf frame than in the previous embodiment, the distancebetween the rods 12 and the rods 2, 4 being preferably from about 1 mmto about 1 cm or a couple of centimeters. Thence, the end portions ofthe longitudinal rods 8-11, having the notches 14-17 are longer, wherebyspringing ability become correspondingly greater.

A further modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5.The upper notches 16, 17 in the longitudinal rods 9, 11 of the shelfframe are disposed slightly closer to each other than the lower notches14, 15 in the rods 8, 10. The centre distances between the lower notches14, 15 are selected so they coincide with the centre distances of thevertical rods 1-4 of the side frames. On the other hand, the centredistances of the upper notches 16, 17 are somewhat smaller than thecentre distances of the vertical rods of the side frames, so that thevertical rods 1, 2 or 3, 4 are pressed together in the two respectiveplanes containing the center lines or the vertical rods 1, 2 and 3, 4.

Of course, the size of the difference in centre distances (axialdistances) between the upper notches 16, 17 and the lower notches 14, 15depends on the ultimate dimensions of the shelving unit and, naturallyon the rigidity of the rods of which the system is built. Depending onthe dimensions of the shelving unit and particularly the diameter of therods used, the difference in centre distance between the upper notches16, 17 and the lower notches 14, 15 may vary from about 0.1 mm to about1 mm.

Obviously it is also conceivable, according to the invention, to providea greater distance between the notches 16, 17 than that between thelower notches 14, 15. Still, the centre distance of the lower notchesshould, of course, coincide with the axial distances of the verticalrods 1, 2 or 3, 4.

The above-described centre distance variations between the upper and thelower recesses 16, 17 or 14, 15 permit elastic deflections in thevertical rods 1-4 of the side frame, mainly in directions that areparallel to the planes defined by the pairs of rods of the side frames.Variations in the position of the transverse rods 12 along thelongitudinal rods 8-11, in the depth of the notches 14-17 as well asvariations of the flexures, if any, of the longitudinal rods 8-11 affectthe springing in the shelf frame itself, such springing mainly beingachieved by deflecting the respective longitudinal rods 8, 10 and 9, 11toward each other. Thus it is possible to obtain springing both in theside frames and in the shelf frames, such springings hardly influencingeach other, but could be used independently.

In a further modified embodiment of the inventions, both upper recesses16, 17 in the longitudinal rods 9, 11 can be displaced laterallyrelative to the lower recesses 14, 15. Of course, the displacement ofthe upper notches must be effected in opposite directions at both endsof the shelf structure in order to maintain a symmetry of the shelvingunit. The displacement may be effected not only inwardly, towards themiddle of the shelf frame, but also outwardly thereof. In theseversions, the centre distances between the respective upper notches 16,17 and the respective lower notches 14, 15 should coincide with thecentre distances of the vertical rods 1, 2 or 3, 4 of the side units. Ofcourse, different centre distances can be employed as well.

The above-described lateral displacement of the notches offers also apossibility of springing deflection, which mainly leaves the shelfframes unaffected but affects the side frames in such a way that thevertical rods 1-4 are deformed in directions contained in those planesdefined by pairs of rods 1, 2 and 3, 4 respectively.

In a further embodiment, the longitudinal rods 9, 11 of the shelf framesare not disposed directly over the lower rods 8, 10 but their spacing isslightly greater. Consequently, a deformation must occur in the shelvingsystem during its assembly. This deformation affects both the shelfframe structure and the side frame, wherein the elastic deformationcaused in the shelf frame results in a sagging deflection of the rods 12in their middle areas. Corresponding, the elastic deformation causes adeflection of the vertical rods 1-4 of the side frame in the areasdisposed between the transverse rods 5 and 6. This embodiment can also,of course, be combined with any of the embodiments describedhereinabove.

The shelving units of the invention are manufactured mainly inconventional workshops. Thus, the side units and shelf frames are cutand welded in an entirely conventional manner.

As far as the manufacturing of the shelf frames is concerned, however,it must be pointed out that the notches or recesses 14-17 in the rods8-11 are made by a plastic working process. The process causes thematerial from the recesses to be pressed out. The flow of the materialis controlled so that it occurs mainly in the vertical direction,whereby, the longitudinal rods 8-11 are substantially enlarged at 20 inthe vertical direction in the area of the notches. As a result, thenotches 14-17 become approximately cylindrical contact surfaces for thevertical rods of the side frames wherein the length, i.e., vertical spanof these contact surfaces is considerably greater than the diameter ofthe longitudinal rods 8-11 of the shelf frames. Assuming the diameter ofthe longitudinal rods of the shelf frames to be 7 mm, the longitudinalvertical extension of the contact surfaces of the notches 14-17 canreach about 10 mm. This amounts to about 50% increase in the contactsurface and, above all, in its heigt.

The notches 14-17 are formed practically in a following manner. Afterthe longitudinal rods 8-11 have been welded to the transverse rods 12, astamp, having the desired recess shape is pressed into the longitudinalrods 8-11. During this pressing by the stamp the material of thelongitudinal rods is left unsupported or unconfined in such a way thatthe flow of material will become directed longitudinally of the notches,i.e. in the vertical direction.

The invention lends itself to further modifications within the scope ofthe patent claims. It is possible to employ the above-described featuresin various combinations to achieve an increased pressure between theside structures and the shelf frames, whereby many various springeffects are utilized simultaneously. Of particular advantage is thecombination of such spring actions which effect independent deformationsin the shelf frame and in the side unit. Due to these springingpossibilities, the range of tolerance can be doubled without involvingthe risk of a loose seat or poor stability of the shelving unitstructure.

I claim:
 1. A shelf unit comprising:side frames each includingtransversely spaced pairs of front and rear vertical rods and firsttransverse rods extending from one said pair of vertical rods to anothersuch pair and being disposed between said front and rear vertical rodsof each pair and fastened thereto, and shelf frames each includingspaced pairs of front and rear longitudinal rods and second transverserods extending from one said pair of longitudinal rods to another suchpair and being disposed between said front and rear longitudinal rods ofeach said pair thereof and fastened thereto, said pairs of front andrear longitudinal rods each including end portions disposed between saidtransversely spaced pairs of vertical rods, each of said end portionsincluding a pair of longitudinally spaced notches facing transverselyoutwardly and receiving therein respective ones of said vertical rods,each of said end portions, including said pair of notches, extendinglongitudinally beyond said second transverse rods such that said endportions are transversely resiliently deformable, said end portionsbeing resiliently deformed transversely inwardly toward one another dueto contact with said vertical rods so as to continuously exerttransversely outwardly directed gripping forces against said verticalrods and thereby tightly secure said shelf frames to said side frames.2. A shelf unit comprising:side frames each including transverselyspaced pairs of front and rear vertical rods and first transverse rodsextending from one said pair of vertical rods to another such pair andbeing disposed between said front and rear vertical rods of each pairand fastened thereto, and shelf frames each including spaced pairs offront and rear longitudinal rods and second transverse rods extendingfrom one said pair of longitudinal rods to another such pair and beingdisposed between said front and rear longitudinal rods of each said pairthereof and fastened thereto, said pairs of front and rear longitudinalrods each including end portions disposed between said transverselyspaced pairs of vertical rods, each of said end portions including apair of longitudinally spaced pressed-in notches facing transverselyoutwardly and receiving therein respective ones of said vertical rods,each of said end portions, including said pair of notches, extendinglongitudinally beyond said second transverse rods, said notches beingpressed-in such that said notches have larger vertical cross-sectionaldimensions than remaining portions of said longitudinal rods.
 3. Ashelving unit system comprising side frames having substantiallyvertical rods and transverse rods, and shelf frames having longitudinalrods and transverse rods, the longitudinal rods of the shelf frameshaving notches at front and rear edges of the shelf frames, the notchesbeing adapted to cooperate with the substantially vertical rods of theside frames, the substantially vertical rods of the side frames beingprovided in pairs, and the transverse rods being fastened between eachpair of the rods, the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames beingarranged in pairs and the transverse rods being fastened between eachpair of the rods, characterized in that the transverse rods of the shelfframes being disposed inwardly relative to the innermost notches of thelongitudinal rods of the shelf frames, the notches being so arranged asto provide elastic deformations of the vertical rods of the side frames,the notches in the lower longitudinal rods of the shelf frames beingspaced from each other, the spacing corresponding to that of the pairsof vertical rods of the side frame, while the notches in upperlongitudinal rods of the shelf frames have a different spacing.
 4. Ashelving unit system comprising side frames having substantiallyvertical rods and transverse rods, and shelf frames having longitudinalrods and transverse rods, the longitudinal rods of the shelf frameshaving notches at front and rear edges of the shelf frames, the notchesbeing adapted to cooperate with the substantially vertical rods of theside frames, the substantially vertical rods of the side frames beingprovided in pairs, and the transverse rods being fastened between eachpair of the rods, the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames beingarranged in pairs and the transverse rods being fastened between eachpair of the rods, characterized in that the transverse rods of the shelfframes being disposed inwardly relative to the innermost notches of thelongitudinal rods of the shelf frames, the notches being so arranged asto provide elastic deformations of the vertical rods of the side frames,the notches in the upper ones of the longitudinal rods of the shelfframes being displaced laterally relative to the notches in the lowerlongitudinal rods.
 5. A shelving unit comprising side frames havingsubstantially vertical rods and transverse rods, and shelf frames havinglongitudinal rods and transverse rods, the longitudinal rods of theshelf frames having notches being adapted to cooperate with thesubstantially vertical rods of the side frames, characterized in thatthe transverse rods of the shelf frames being disposed inwardly relativeto the innermost notches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames,the outer notches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames beingshallower than inner notches thereof.
 6. A shelving unit comprising sideframes having substantially vertical rods and transverse rods, and shelfframes having longitudinal rods and transverse rods, the longitudinalrods of the shelf frames having notches being adapted to cooperate withthe substantially vertical rods of the side frames, where the rodsextending along the longitudinal edges of the shelf frames are disposedone upon the other, characterized in that the transverse rods of theshelf frames being disposed inwardly relative to the innermost notchesof the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames, the spacing between theupper longitudinal rods being different from the spacing between thelower longitudinal rods.
 7. A shelving unit comprising side frameshaving substantially vertical rods and transverse rods, and shelf frameshaving longitudinal rods and transverse rods, the longitudinal rods ofthe shelf frames having notches being adapted to cooperate with thesubstantially vertical rods of the side frames, the substantiallyvertical rods of the side frames being provided in pairs, and thetransverse rods being fastened between each pair of the rods, thelongitudinal rods of the shelf frames being arranged in pairs and thetransverse rods being fastened between each pair of the rods,characterized in that the transverse rods of the shelf frames beingdisposed inwardly relative to the innermost notches of the longitudinalrods of the shelf frames, the notches being so arranged as to provideelastic deformations of the vertical rods of the side frames, the outernotches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames being shallowerthan inner notches thereof.
 8. A shelving unit comprising side frameshaving substantially vertical rods and transverse rods, and shelf frameshaving longitudinal rods and transverse rods, the longitudinal rods ofthe shelf frames having notches being adapted to cooperate with thesubstantially vertical rods of the side frames, the substantiallyvertical rods of the side frames being provided in pairs, and thetransverse rods being fastened between each pair of the rods, thelongitudinal rods of the shelf frames being arranged in pairs and thetransverse rods being fastened between each pair of the rods, the rodsextending along the longitudinal edges of the shelf frames beingdisposed one upon the other, characterized in that the transverse rodsof the shelf frames being disposed inwardly relative to that innermostnotches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames, the notches beingso arranged as to provide elastic deformations of the vertical rods ofthe side frames, the spacing between the upper longtudinal rods beingdifferent from the spacing between the lower longitudinal rods.
 9. Ashelving unit system according to claim 1, characterized in that thenotches in the lower longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are spacedfrom each other, the spacing corresponding to that of the pairs ofvertical rods of the side frame, while the notches in upper longitudinalrods of the shelf frames have a different spacing.
 10. A shelving unitsystem according to claim 1, characterized in that the notches in theupper ones of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are displacedlaterally relative to the notches in the lower longitudinal rods.
 11. Ashelving unit system according to claim 1, characterized in that, theouter notches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are shallowerthan inner notches thereof.
 12. A shelving unit system according toclaim 1, and where the rods extending along the longitudinal edges ofthe shelf frames are disposed one upon the other, characterized in thatthe spacing between the upper longitudinal rods is different from thespacing between the lower longitudinal rods.
 13. A shelving unit systemaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the notches in the upperones of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are displacedlaterally relative to the notches in the lower longitudinal rods.
 14. Ashelving unit system according to claim 2, characterized in that, theouter notches of the longitudinal rods of the shelf frames are shallowerthan inner notches thereof